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Guide

Jewelry glossary

Every term you'll hear at the counter, in plain words. Underlined terms link to the page that covers them in depth.

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A to Z

Terms

Basket
The metal frame of prongs that holds the center stone.
Bezel
A smooth rim of metal wrapped around a stone instead of prongs.
Bow-tie
A dark band across the middle of an oval, pear, or marquise where light escapes.
Carat
A diamond's weight. One carat is 0.2 grams.
Cathedral
Arches of metal that rise from the band to support a raised center stone.
Channel setting
Stones held in a row between two walls of metal.
Clarity
How free a stone is of inclusions and blemishes.
Comfort fit
A band rounded on the inside so it slides over the knuckle easily.
Crown
The top part of a diamond, above the girdle.
Culet
The point or small facet at the very bottom of a diamond.
Eternity band
A band set with diamonds all the way around.
Fluorescence
A glow some diamonds show under ultraviolet light. Usually invisible in daylight.
Gallery
The side profile of a ring beneath the center stone, often decorated.
GIA
The Gemological Institute of America, which created the 4Cs.
Girdle
The thin outer edge of a diamond, where the laser inscription sits.
Halo
A ring of small diamonds around a center stone.
Head
The part of a ring that holds the center stone.
Hidden halo
A row of diamonds under the center stone, seen from the side.
IGI
The International Gemological Institute, which grades most lab-grown diamonds.
Inclusion
A tiny natural feature inside a stone.
Karat
The purity of gold. 24 karat is pure, 18 karat is 75 percent, 14 karat is 58.5 percent.
Lab-grown diamond
A real diamond grown in a lab rather than mined.
Milgrain
A row of tiny metal beads along an edge, for a vintage look.
Pavé
Small diamonds set close together, held by tiny beads of metal.
Pavilion
The lower part of a diamond, below the girdle.
Prong
A metal claw that holds a stone in place.
Retipping
Rebuilding the worn tip of a prong with new metal.
Rhodium plating
A bright white coating on white gold that wears and needs renewing.
Shank
The band of a ring, the part that goes around the finger.
Solitaire
A ring with a single center stone.
Table
The large flat facet on top of a diamond.
Total carat weight
The combined weight of every diamond in a piece.

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